87(R) SB 17 - Introduced version - Bill Text
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to procedure, evidence, and remedies in civil actions. |
 
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             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
 
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             SECTION  1.    The heading to Chapter 72, Civil Practice and |
 
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Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: |
 
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CHAPTER 72. [LIABILITY OF] MOTOR VEHICLE [OWNER OR OPERATOR TO |
 
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GUEST] |
 
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             SECTION  2.    Chapter 72, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is |
 
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amended by adding Sections 72.0001 and 72.005 through 72.009 to |
 
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read as follows: |
 
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             Sec.  72.0001.    DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
 
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                         (1)    "Accident" means an event in which a motor vehicle |
 
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comes into contact with a person or object, including another motor |
 
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vehicle, causing bodily injury or death. |
 
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                         (2)    "Civil action" means an action in which: |
 
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                                     (A)    a person seeks recovery of damages for bodily |
 
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injury or death caused in an accident; and |
 
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                                     (B)    a defendant or responsible third party is a |
 
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person who: |
 
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                                                 (i)    operated a motor vehicle involved in |
 
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the accident; or |
 
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                                                 (ii)    owned, leased, or otherwise exercised |
 
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legal control over a motor vehicle involved in the accident. |
 
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                         (3)    "Claimant" means a person, including a decedent's |
 
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estate, seeking or who has sought recovery of damages in a civil |
 
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action. |
 
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                         (4)    "Commercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle |
 
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being used in interstate or intrastate commerce for the |
 
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transportation of property or passengers for commercial purposes, |
 
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for the delivery or transport of goods for commercial purposes, or |
 
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for the providing of services for commercial purposes. A motor |
 
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vehicle that is being used primarily for personal, family, or |
 
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household use is not a commercial motor vehicle. |
 
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                         (5)    "Compensatory damages" and "exemplary damages" |
 
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have the meanings assigned by Section 41.001. |
 
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                         (6)    "Future damages" and "future loss of earnings" |
 
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have the meanings assigned by Section 74.501. |
 
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                         (7)    "Gross negligence" has the meaning assigned by |
 
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Section 41.001. |
 
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                         (8)    "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled or towed |
 
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device in which a person or property can be transported on a public |
 
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highway. The term includes a trailer designed for use with a |
 
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self-propelled device described by this subsection. The term does |
 
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not include a device used exclusively upon stationary rails or |
 
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tracks. |
 
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                         (9)    "Periodic payments" has the meaning assigned by |
 
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Section 74.501. |
 
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                         (10)    "Video" means an electronic representation of a |
 
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sequence of images, with or without accompanying audio, depicting |
 
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either stationary or moving scenes, regardless of the manner in |
 
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which the sequence of images is captured, recorded, or stored. |
 
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             Sec.  72.005.    BIFURCATED TRIAL IN CERTAIN COMMERCIAL MOTOR |
 
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VEHICLE ACCIDENT ACTIONS. (a) In a civil action involving a |
 
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commercial motor vehicle, on motion by a defendant, the court shall |
 
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provide for a bifurcated trial under this section. |
 
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             (b)    A motion under this section shall be made prior to the |
 
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beginning of voir dire examination of the jury or at a time |
 
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specified by a pretrial court order issued under Rule 166, Texas |
 
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Rules of Civil Procedure. |
 
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             (c)    In the first phase of a bifurcated trial under this |
 
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section, the trier of fact shall determine liability for and the |
 
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amount of compensatory damages, unless the defendant has stipulated |
 
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to liability. If the defendant has stipulated to liability, the |
 
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trier of fact shall determine in the first phase only the amount of |
 
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compensatory damages. |
 
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             (d)    In the second phase of a bifurcated trial under this |
 
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section, the trier of fact shall determine liability for and the |
 
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amount of exemplary damages to be awarded if: |
 
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                         (1)    the claimant's pleading states a claim for |
 
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recovery of exemplary damages; |
 
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                         (2)    either: |
 
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                                     (A)    the trier of fact found during the first |
 
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phase of the
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